Reacting to the meningococcal ABCWY vaccine approval with Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC

Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN

On February 14, 2025, the FDA approved GSK's meningococcal ABCWY (MenABCWY; Penmenvy) vaccine for use among individuals aged 10 to 25 years. The vaccine targets 5 groups of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (A,B,C,W, AND Y) that cause the most invasive meningococcal disease cases (IMD) globally. The vaccine combines antigenic components of the meningococcal group B vaccine (Bexsero) and meningococcal groups A, C, Y, and W-135 Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine (Menveo).

Click here for full FDA approval details.

Below, Contemporary Pediatrics' Editorial Advisory Board member Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN—clinical professor, program director of Pediatrics NP at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing in New York, New York—offers reaction to the federal agency's decision to approve the vaccine, and explains why this approval is exciting for health care providers across the board.

Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN:

The approval of the GSK MenABCWY vaccine, which is the meningitis vaccine with protection against meningitis serogroups, A, B, C, W, and Y, is very exciting news for all pediatric and young adult health care providers as well as for adolescents and young adults.

This combination vaccine is approved by the FDA children aged 10 years through young adults aged 25 years. The vaccine is a 2-dose series of an intramuscular injection with the second dose given 6 months after receiving the first dose. The benefit is protection from 5 different forms (serotypes) of Neisseria meningitidis, commonly called meningitis, all in one vaccine.

Meningitis is an aggressive disease which can lead to the death of a healthy individual as quickly as 24-hours after the first symptoms begin.

The pediatric population of 10 to 25 years of age are very susceptible to this devastating disease. An adolescent who is practicing a sport may drink from another person’s water bottles. That adolescent may be exposed to an individual who carries the organism but is asymptomatic. The disease then spreads to the person who drank from the water bottle.

The age group for which the vaccine is indicated are at the highest risk for contracting meningitis from any one of the A, B, C, W, or Y serotypes.

It is best for providers to set up call-back reminders in their electronic medical records after the administration of the first dose, so that parents and the children, adolescents, or young adults receive their second dose.

It is always best to be fully immunized to achieve the best protection from contracting the disease.

For all of us pediatric nurses, pediatric and family nurse practitioners, and pediatricians who have provided care for children who have contracted meningitis, we know the devastation meningitis disease can cause to the pediatric patient, including death, and the agony we feel as we speak with parents about the child.

This is an opportunity for all pediatric providers not only to have the vaccine available in the office but also to speak with the parents and child, adolescent, or young adult about the benefits of taking the vaccine and completing the 2-dose series.

On February 26, 2025, a meeting of the members of the Center for Disease Control Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled. The members will also review the vaccine data, which will include the clinical trials that featured over 4800 participants aged 10 to 25 years from several countries.

The ACIP members will vote at that time and make recommendations about the MenABCWY vaccine.

It is important for all health care providers of pediatric and young adult patients to learn about this vaccine and to prepare for administration as soon as it becomes available.

Reference:

Fitch, J. FDA approves GSK's meningococcal ABCWY vaccine. Contemporary Pediatrics. February 14, 2025. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/fda-approves-gsk-s-meningococcal-abcwy-vaccine